Story Spotlight: A Clockwork Orange – Anthony Burgess

I hated Nadsat at first. That’s the name of the rich slang that Anthony Burgess created and used in half his dialogue. I hated it because it interfered with the story and seemed pretentious. At least, that’s what I thought initially. As it turns out, this language plays perfectly off of the narrator’s narcissism, creating a unique depth for a fascinating novel.

There is but one character of importance in A Clockwork Orange. Everyone else fades to a setting description. As the story follows Alex, it gives you an incredible look into the layered mind of a violent sociopath. Reminds me of another character I’m familiar with. Eerily so.

Of course, this sort of character pops up from time to time in literature. And each author adds their own twist to the commentary. As such, the plot is reduced to nothing more than a vehicle, and you’re really reading for the author’s particular flavor of this take on humanity. That’s what I love most. That’s why you should read this book.

It should be noted that some plot points are rushed along and crammed together a bit too conveniently. While that would normally be a major flaw in my eyes, I hardly noticed it here. Burgess wrote a fantastic story that easily counts among my favorites.